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Is your board dysfunctional? Board members are aware of what is expected of them The agenda of Board meetings is well planned so that we are able to get through all necessary Board business It seems that most Board members come to meetings prepared We receive written reports to the Board in advance of our meetings All Board members participate in important Board discussions

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Is your board dysfunctional? We do a good job encouraging and dealing with different points of view We all support the decisions we make The Board has a plan for the education and further development of Board members Our Board meetings are always interesting Our Board meetings are frequently fun

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The Dysfunctional Board If there is an absence of trust, Board Members: Conceal their weaknesses and mistakes from one another Hesitate to ask for help or provide constructive feedback Hesitate to offer help outside their own areas of responsibility Jump to conclusions about the intentions and aptitudes of others without attempting to clarify them Fail to recognize and tap into one another’s skills and experiences Waste time and energy managing their behaviours for effect Hold grudges Dread meetings and ﬁnd reasons to avoid spending time together The Functional Board If there is a foundation of trust, Board Members: Admit weaknesses and mistakes Ask for help Accept questions and input about their areas of responsibility Give one another the beneﬁt of the doubt before arriving at a negative conclusion Take risks in offering feedback and assistance Appreciate and tap into one another’s skills and experiences Focus time and energy on important issues, not politics Offer and accept apologies without hesitation Look forward to meetings and other opportunities to work as a group Trust

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From dysfunctional to functional The Dysfunctional Board If there is a fear conﬂict, Board Members: Have boring meetings Create environments where back- channel politics and personal attacks thrive Ignore controversial topics that are critical to team success Fail to tap into all the opinions and perspectives of team members Waste time and energy with posturing and interpersonal risk management The Functional Board If there is engagement with conﬂict, Board Members: Have lively, interesting meetings Extract and exploit the ideas of all team members Solve real problems quickly Minimize politics Put critical topics on the table for discussion Conflict

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From dysfunctional to functional The Dysfunctional Board A board that fails to commit: Creates ambiguity among the board about direction and priorities Watches windows of opportunity close due to excessive analysis and unnecessary delay Breeds lack of conﬁdence and fear of failure Revisits discussions and decisions again and again Encourages second-guessing among board members The Functional Board A board that commits: Creates clarity around direction and priorities Aligns the entire board around common objectives Develops an ability to learn from mistakes Takes advantage of opportunities before competitors do Moves forward without hesitation Changes direction without hesitation or guilt Commitment

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From dysfunctional to functional The Dysfunctional Board A board that avoids accountability: Creates resentment among board members who have different standards of performance Encourages mediocrity Misses deadlines and key deliverables Places an undue burden on the Chair as the sole source of discipline The Functional Board A board whose members hold each other accountable: Ensures that poor performers feel pressure to improve Identiﬁes potential problems quickly by questioning one another’s approaches without hesitation Establishes respect among board members who are held to the same high standards Avoids excessive bureaucracy around performance management and corrective action Accountability

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From dysfunctional to functional The Dysfunctional Board If the board is not focused on results, the organisation: Stagnates/fails to grow Rarely defeats competitors Loses achievement-oriented employees Encourages board members to focus on their own careers and individual goals Is easily distracted The Functional Board If the board is focused on collective results, the organisation: Retains achievement-oriented employees Minimizes individualistic behaviour Enjoys success and suffers failure acutely Beneﬁts from individuals who subjugate their own goals/interests for the good of the board Avoids distractions Results

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The four key tasks of the board Establish and maintain vision, mission and values Decide strategy and structure Delegate to management Account to shareholders and be responsible to stakeholders The four key tasks of the board A dysfunctional board means a dysfunctional business